Certificate in Public Health

Academic Year 2017/18

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

Certificate in Public Health

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Postgraduate Certificate

Programme Code

MED-PC-PH

UCAS Code

JACS Code

A900 (DESCR) 100

Criteria for Admissions

For current general University entry requirements for this pathway go to:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/ado

Candidates cannot apply for entry to the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health; it is only available to those who have successfully completed at least 60 CATS from the modules available and who are not able to achieve the Diploma or Masters awards.

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations (Please see General Regulations)

No

Programme Specific Regulations

Awards, Credits and Programme of Learning Outcomes
Examinations
The following regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Regulations.

Examinations
1. The Certificate in Public Health is only available to those who are enrolled for the Masters in Public Health and who are not able to achieve the award of Diploma or Masters.

2. Candidates who achieve 60 CAT points from the available taught modules will be eligible for award of Certificate.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No
No (with the exception of students who are taking this as an intercalated degree and whose primary programmes are subject to FTP regulations))

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

To introduce the breadth of the public health approach and perspective:
- population based;
- collective responsibility for health, its protection and disease prevention;
- the key role of the state, linked to a concern for the underlying socio-economic and wider determinants of health, as well as disease;
- a multidisciplinary basis, which incorporates quantitative, as well as qualitative methods; and
- partnerships with all of those who contribute to the health of the population.

To introduce the 'science of public health' practice which requires a robust, systematic, and evidence-based approach to define and understand population health issues and problems, and to identify optimal solutions for health gain within available resources.

To introduce the 'art of public health' practice which requires interpersonal and organisational skills to work in partnership with others, influence decisions, support implementation of policy, programmes or interventions, and effect real change.

To provide learners with a public health knowledge and skills base, as a foundation for further training and career opportunities in public health practice or academic research.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Source, and appraise public health scientific literature which will draw on the key methodologies involved in the science of public health
a) epidemiological concepts and methodologies
b) demography
c) qualitative health research

Students will be able to identify health needs of population groups and describe the key processes involved in planning, commissioning and delivering high quality healthcare and population screening services. Students will be able to interpret and apply health economics concepts to decision making.

Outline sociological perspective, explanations, processes and constructs for observed patterns and experiences of health and disease; describe observed and potential effects of the physical environment on individual and population health.

Discuss the advocacy role of public health practitioners as agents of policy change; describe the process of policy-making through the inter-relationship of context, process and actors; illustrate the principles of policy analysis, strategy development and local implementation; discuss the relative importance of individual and society decisions for health and ethical issues relating to health improvement; summarise the theory and principles of health improvement interventions directed at individuals, community groups, marginalized groups, and large populations; outline a systematic model for planning, implementation and evaluation of a health promotion intervention in a defined group of individuals or population; discuss approaches and barriers to multi agency working in public health; and apply basic models and theories for public health leadership, operational management, team working, organisations, and collaborative working in the context of health improvement

apply a systems approach to health and social care service provision; discuss approaches to prioritising, funding, strategic planning, and commissioning of services; apply frameworks for service quality measurement and assessment; interpret measures of service utilisation and performance appropriately; discuss individual and organisational accountability and systems of governance to safeguard quality; outline the generic steps in a quality improvement project and apply this to a specific context;; outline the evidence for population screening programmes, using established criteria; and discuss the organisation and quality assurance of screening programmes.